Saturday, January 12, 2008

THE DIVA OF THE DANUBE

STROLLING IN PEST - APRIL 2006

After showing views from the Castle and the hills in Buda, as well as of the water of the Danube, this post pays homage to some beautiful buildings in Pest.


"THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, the first museum of Hungary, was founded by Count Ferenc Széchenyi in 1802. The neoclassical building was designed by Mihály Polláck, took ten years to be built and opened in 1847 as the fourth largest museum in Europe. Rafael Monti prepared the sculptures of the tympanum, including a female personification of Pannonia, enthroned holding laurel wreaths in her hands. Today, the main exhibitions of the Museum focus on the history of Hungary from the Palaeolithic era to the present times"



"DEAK FERENC TER - Further to some quite interesting buildings, the place hosts the Meridien Hotel and three stations on the M1, M2, and M3 lines of the Budapest Metro"


"SAINT STEPHEN'S BASILICA is Hungary’s largest church and the second highest in ecclesiastical ranking, after the Esztergom Basilica posted here. Its construction was started in 1851, but its dome collapsed in 1868, and thus the building was complete only in 1905. The interior features about 50 different types of marble and, behind the main altar you can see an extraordinary holy relic: Stephen's preserved right hand"


"CENTRAL BANK - The building (1902-1905) was originally constructed as the headquarters for the Austro-Hungarian Bank by Ignác Alpár (1855-1928). Alpár was one of the great Hungarian architects, also responsible for some other impressive bank buildings in Budapest, nowadays used for different purposes: the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the Budapest Stock Exchange and the home of Hungarian Television"


"FORMER POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK - The bank was designed by Odön Lechner, the architect who tried to fuse Hungarian folk elements with the Art Nouveau style, and was built in 1901"


"BUDA SEEN FROM PEST"


"IMRE NAGY, who was Prime Minister immediately prior to the 1956 uprising and tried to introduce some reforms pulling away from Soviet Union, took refuge in the Yugoslavian Embassy after the uprising was crushed. Though he had assurances of safe passage, Nagy was arrested as soon as he left the compound, was tried and executed in 1958, and buried in an unmarked site of the Budapest cemetery. Nagy's body was exhumed and given a state burial in 1989 and this statue was erected in 1996"



"THE DIVA OF THE DANUBE - From the Pest bank of the River there is a beautiful view towards Buda, Matthias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion and the Castle"


"HÖSÖK TER - The Heroes Square, at the end of Andrassy Avenue, is home to the Millennium Monument and to the Millennial Column. The Monument was built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest; The 36 meter high Column is topped with a statue of the Archangel Gabriel and has equestrian statues of the 7 Magyar chiefs who actually conquered the territory (Arpad, Elod, Ond, Kond, Tas, Huba, Tohotom) at the basis"


"THE FINE ARTS MUSEUM, on the northern side of Heroes' Square, houses some masterpieces from El Greco, Goya, Rembrandt and Rubens, as well as other items dating back to the Egyptian era. One of the most impressive galleries in Central Europe, a great part of its collection comes from the Esterházy family, once one of the most influential families in the country. During our stay, there was an important exhibition on Sigismund from Luxembourg, son of the emperor Charles IV and King of Hungary from 1387 through 1437"


"ART PALACE - On the southern side of Heroes Square, the Palace was built in 1895, in neoclassical style. It's the greatest exhibition hall in Hungary and it regularly organizes themed exhibitions; Coolhunters - Jugendkulturen zwischen Medien und Markt - was shown then. According to Wikipedia, «Coolhunting is a term coined in the early 1990s referring to a new breed of marketing professionals, called coolhunters. It is their job to make observations and predictions in changes of new or existing cultural trends»!"


"VAJDAHUNYAD was built in wood and cardboard for the city’s millennium exhibition in 1896. Its success was so huge that a decision was taken to make it more permanent, using brick and stone. The castle, actually an enclave of buildings rather than just one structure, was designed by architect Ignác Alpár and seems to have been modelled after a castle with the same name in Transylvania"


"VÖRÖSMARTY TER is named after the early 19th century Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty, who is known for his patriotic lyrics. The Square is one of the busiest places in Budapest and it's also the start of the city's most famous shopping street, Váci Utca"


"THE GERBEAUD is a wonderful pastry shop owned by a Swiss family. The café was established by Henrik Kugler in 1858 and expanded by its later owner, Emil Gerbeaud. It’s decorated with marble tables and beautiful wall coverings and is large enough to hold 300 customers at a time at the Cafe, the Restaurant and the Pub. Don't miss the Esterházy and Dobos cakes"


"GRESHAM'S BUILDING - I've already posted a picture of the Gresham Palace, but I believe the building deserves another chance"

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

It seems that Blogtrotter's 150th post didn't raise much enthousiasm, at least amongst Budapest bloggers, who didn't react... :-( Hope this one gets to be more interesting... ;)
Meanwhile, Revival 80s is still under the rain in Ireland, and Revival 90s is under the Sun in Boca Raton!
Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Please Magic Trotter, would you write me how I could see all your posts about New York? Thanks for your answer

yes,Lubéron is GREAT!!! and"a year in Provence" describes exactly the Provence and its inhabitants. It's a very special country.
Jacqueline from Montpellier France

Anonymous said...

Jacqueline,
You may see all the NYC posts on this blog by pushing the label New York on the side bar...
Then you have to go to the Revival 90s and do the same and to the 70s & 80s and repeat the operation; Thanks for your interest and sorry to have three different blogs... :((
Another Peter Mayle fan?

freefalling said...

Did you see St Stephen's preserved hand?
I think that is a very touching statue of Nagy.
Is Budapest some kind of secret?
We don't hear it mentioned very often when people speak of traveling overseas - and I don't know why - it seems extraordinary to me.

Anonymous said...

Yes,I'm a Peter Mayle fan!I read his book in French and in English.
So humorous and true!I know very well the Luberon;I have to go there every sunday and love it. Many friends there.I have seen P.Mayle former house and the famous "café" in Menerbes and many places he describes.Beautiful country and so funny people!!!
J.

Anonymous said...

Vous devez savoir,aussi,que,submergé par le succés de son livre(traduit en plus de 40 langues),le Lubéron (et sa maison)envahis par des cars de touristes,notamment de nombreux japonais,harcelé (peut-être)par des Provenceaux désolés de perdre leur tranquillité et,certains ,vexcés de leur image,P.M a dû vendre sa maison et partir très loin.....Amicalement votre. J

lv2scpbk said...

All these structures are great. I really like the first photo of the museum. Also, nice pose with the statue on the bridge. My husband and I do that where we pose like the statue. It looks like you two are having a conversation with him.

Kunterbunt said...

Such an interesting town. One day we will go to Budapest, too.

Dsole said...

Gil, each time I visit your blog I though about all the interesting places I'd like to visit some day! And then I get a little bit collapsed because I realised that there's no enough time for me at all!!
But at least you're there and show me your photos and your cities!
Thank you! have a nice day! Bon dia!

Isadora said...

Hi there and thank you for mentioning your entry. I've simply not had as much time to visit recently as I used to.

Interesting, because this morning I was out taking photos and your second shot will be coming up for me sometime in the next week or so. Imre Nagy was just featured last week.

It is great to know that others are enthused about places you love :) I'm glad to see your enthusiasm.

Have a great week.

Noushy Syah said...

The stature,the architechural buildings and the ambience are all attractive to be visited. I'm glad that by browsing your blog I feel like I am also trotting round the world!!

Good job my friend.Keep it up.

Azer Mantessa said...

great pics of structures taken and Pest is described very comprehensively ... wow.

TQ

Peter said...

Really have to go!

Re your comments on my blog (Pont Neuf): I made a comment on it my post today (Place Dauphine). The hotel you visited in 1969 is still there (on photo) and I think they may have somewhat upgraded the room standard.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful place!
The photos are lovely!
Good shots!

Alex
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

Ming the Merciless said...

Amazing photos, as usual.

I especially love the view of Buda from the Pest. :-) It's interesting to see the street lights strung from wires across the street.

Lynette said...

Your photos (and descriptions) of your travels provide a great way to spend some time. Thanks. And thanks for your well wishes for Mama--she had a stent put into her left subclavian artery because not enough blood was going to the back of her brain, causing an extreme lack of equilibrium. At least, that's what the doctors believe is going on. She might have to have one more procedure this next week. I will provide updates.

alicesg said...

Your travel posts is always very interesting and despite your busy schedules, you take time to reply comments and visiting my blog and giving views and tips. Thank you so much. :)

Ash said...

I fully agree with alicesg :)

isa said...

A lot of architectural details remind me of Paris - did you have the same feeling?

And either Nagy was very tall or you two are munchkins ;-)

Olivier said...

c'est majestueux et quand je vois toutes les sculptures qu'il y a, je serais aux anges. Merci pour la ballade, cela donne envie.

Anonymous said...

As always a special treat to read your blog. Coolhunters.....love that term. I think I need a coolhunter to upgrade my website. :)

Anonymous said...

Trotter, the two mails from anonymous were an answer to you writing. Many thanks for your time.
Sorry for the other bloggers:it isn't the day's purpose. Please thanks to forgive me.J

Lara said...

we were looking forward for your next post! it was worth waiting!

alice said...

Something for you on my blog today...

Marie said...

gmg, I have just granted you the You Make my Day award.

Who would deserve it more than you who allow us to make such great trips through your blog?

indicaspecies said...

Another lovely post with beautiful pictures Gil. :)

lyliane six said...

Très imposants ces monuments, je crois que je vais aimer cette ville.

Dorothée said...

Budapest is on my travel list. I would really loved to visit it. It's a pleasure to come back to your blog and look at your beautifulo pics.

Shionge said...

Hello my dear friend, thank you for your frequent visit to my blog and yes, I'm back and I am so happy to be here too......:D

Nick said...

You can certainly see the Austrian influence in some of the architecture. It reminds me a little of Zagreb - same influences, I suppose.

Ammaro said...

i must say, you have a beautiful site... how do you do it, travel the world? it would be my dream to be able to...

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

totally love the view of buda from pest.........and the Nagy statue is touching.

Anonymous said...

Hi Everybody. Thank you all for your visits and comments. They keep this blog alive!

Freefalling,
I saw the hand; odd relic! Budapest is a quite nice town, and will surely be «in» rather sooner than later… But for those who read the NYTimes, 2008 destination is… Lisbon! Don’t forget… ;))

Jacqueline,
Keep in touch! I know what happened to Peter Mayle; but One Year in Provence, Encore Provence and Provence Toujours are not to be missed… You have to go to Luberon every Sunday? Lucky girl you are…;))

Barb,
The picture with the Nagy’s statue is also one of my favourites; the Portuguese tourist that was passing by with his son and took the picture did a nice job… ;))

April,
You’re much closer and the city deserves the trip!

Dsole,
Don’t think that you don’t have time; just start moving around NOW! ;))

Isadora,
Saw your Nagy picture and thought to myself that the trees were so different when you took it! Thanks for keeping my memories of Budapest alive!

Noushy Syah,
Great to read your comments and glad to contribute for the virtual tours… One day they will materialize… ;))

Azer Mantessa,
Alex,
Thanks!

Peter,
Great decision! I checked your post, and Henry IV has certainly upgraded its standard… ;))

Ming,
When I saw Buda from that square near the Pest Basilica, I thought it would be a good shot; but then the lighting made it better than I thought!

Lynette,
Hope things are better now!

AliceSG,
Ash,
Not as often as I wished, but I try to keep in touch with my fellow bloggers…

Isabella,
Munchkins? That statue is ten feet tall… ;))
You’re right about Paris; some of those buildings seem directly imported from there…

Olivier,
Il y a des statues partout; et bien belles…

Lynn,
Don’t need to upgrade your blog; at least the header can be seen in full dimension, not like my Ahu Akivi that lost one Moai swallowed by Blogger… ;))

Lara,
Thanks. Too kind!

Alice,
Marie,
Thanks for the award; it highly improves my self-esteem; but probably not so much deserved by an intermittent blogger… ;))

Celine,
Thanks!

Lyliane,
Alors, juste rentrée de Prague, tu prépares déjà le départ pour Budapest… Et c’est moi qui est le Trotter… ;))

Dorothee,
Thanks!

Shionge,
So glad to see you back! Sorry for that accident, but you’re almost full recovered, I hope!

Nick,
Some of those buildings are from the times of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire…

Anmaro,
Travel the world? Just start now; the sooner, the better! ;))

Moi,
Those two pictures are also included in my favourites!

Lydia said...

will have to include Budapest in my travels in the future thanks to the photos you have taken gmg

Anonymous said...

Lydia,
Welcome here and welcome to the world of travellers in blogosphere.
Budapest is surely a nice city to visit!

Andrea Gerák said...

"The Diva of the Danube" - this is nice. Thanks Gil, it's a great post about this beautifl city!

Anonymous said...

Andrea,
There are, of course, several divas in Budapest, including a beautiful Hungarian singer...
Thanks for the visit and comment!